Why yes, aromatica! Is yours orange? Aromatica makes yellowish/orange flowers that smell kind of like cinnamon/juicy fruit gum...or something equally odd.

My aromatica tends to send out multiple flushes of blooms during the growing season...so you may get more flowers later. It is a LOT more floriferous than my macrophylla and also a lot better looking, IMO.

The bulbs at the back are 'back bulbs' and won't make leaves or flowers, but they do provide a store of energy for the other bulbs and parts...so I would leave them alone.

As for watering...I dunno...water more than you were, but less than you eventually will once the leaves get bigger. Its really impossible to say much about that.

For repotting, I suggest LECA pellets in a semi-hydroponic pot. That way they are pretty much assured of getting all the water they want while growing and when dormant, you can just let the reservoir run dry...plus no worries about bark breaking down and all the other advantages with s/h.

I really think Lycastes are very underrated...almost as much as Angs! If they were a little smaller, I'd have many more. Some of the hybrids have a lot more colorful flowers, by the way. Good luck!
-MB

Mr B!
I haven't really been watering it. I really do almost nothing to it. Confused what to do about the water increase. Will that have an effect on the buds? is it even time to worry about it yet?

Mine is light orange. The buds are 80% open. I can see a dark blood red tongue down there! I agree, they are underrated. Perfect, low maintenece orchid for an indoor grower if one can handle big the leaves. At least the leaves aren't around all year! My feeling is they NEED the temp drop which a leaky window can provide to flower well. (my magic window, everything buds in front of it)

Seriously temped by the Locusta. Its available within driving distance. (Yikes! can't buy just 1!) Heard Locusta was somehow tougher to grow than Cruenta. Looking at Baker's, Locusta seems to want a little more heat/light but I grow them like that anyway. " High Ang light". The rest period may not be as strict. Can't really see huge differences or why they would be more difficult??? Fragrant too.

S/H,goods like a good idea. Cruenta came with some bad root rot. More and more I am going to clear plastic to keep an eye on roots and less watering. Saw your post on the roots/watering. Nice! That is an excellent thread!

Clara